How I’m supposed to follow last week’s post by Ermisenda about victim shaming, I don’t know, but here it goes.
Picture it & Write is a weekly creative writing prompt. We invite you to join in; continue the story or start your own based on inspiration from the image. Poetry and foreign languages are welcome, but please provide a translation. This photograph will be reblogged under Ermisenda on tumblr and added to the Picture it & Write gallery on Facebook and Pinterest.
Please continue to write however you’re inspired, but add a tag to the beginning of your post if there’s mature content in order to keep Picture it & Write an engaging event for all of our followers.
The tip of the marker was cool against my back. I sniffed the air, “you’re not using a permanent marker are you Lily?”
“Oops,” her voice tinkled as she stifled a giggle.
Oh well. She was three, I wasn’t going to scold her. Instead I slipped off my tank so that the only fabric she would color on was my black bra. My other sister, Kailee colored on my legs.
Your body is a temple, my mother always chided when I brought up wanting tattoos. What was that supposed to mean? I could put sugar and fat in my “temple” but I couldn’t draw on it? Best not to tell her I want elf ears.
-Eliabeth Hawthorne
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Every fortnight we hope to host a photograph suggested by contributors. So, keep those photograph recommendations coming. Submit your favorite images (with credit) for next week’s Picture it & Write!
Ermilia 
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Oh Em Gee. I don’t understand how people get tattoos that are spelled incorrectly. When I got mine, they stenciled it on first so I could check the location and it was a butterfly. I’ve actually considered doing something like this, butterflies trailing down my shoulders and back, easily hidden, each one representing a milestone in my life. Never ever would I get something on my face.
As always, I adore your writing and your enthusiasm carries across over the internet. It is a pleasure to know you.
All of mine were stencilled first. All tattooists should do that. If they don’t then find another tattooist is my advice. It’s too easy to make a mitsake when doing it freehand.
The picture these week, for whatever reason, reminded me of something I read about a girl claiming to have fallen asleep while getting her face tattooed that ended up with 56 stars instead of 3.
I remember hearing about that as well. Again, what the heck? You have to talk to and trust the tattoo artist before you let them near you with ink and a needle.
Hear, Hear!
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Here’s mine for today
https://joe2stories.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/picture-it-and-write-mementos/
Enjoy
Joe
“A series of Koi pools with water falls flowing from one to the other, showing life can be both calm and rough at times.” That would be a gorgeous painting, not sure about a tattoo. I love the symbolism you created with it. “Each image brought back a flood of memories, the mementos opening new doorways to her past. Not all of them were good but they were her stories, her life, her way of telling them.” Beautiful.
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She sounds like a real character! Here’s mine.. http://coffeewithyerbuccaneer.wordpress.com/
Thank you. 😀
:O kinda depressing. I like to think there’s no such thing as your one true love. I believe in soul mates, but that you can have more than one, and in different types. Ermisenda is a good argument for that, soo many things fell into place for two authors who have never met in person. I hope the shaman’s prediction is incorrect.
absolutely terrific image.. loved it and so tried an impromptu thought for the photo as the post.My contribution http://wp.me/p1Zs7k-1pp
Thanks! We really do try to pick engaging images.
The post at Undead in the Netherworld has mature subject matter, but there are no explicit descriptions. The Art of Healing
Thanks for the disclaimer.
Regarding the work:
I like the sentiment behind the piece. That violence, rape in particular effect family, friends, loved ones, not just the victim. It confuses me even more why victim shaming even exists.
A powerful piece.
Hehe I like that. “Elf ears”. I have not done this one before, but I saw this photo and a story leapt at me that I needed to tell. It’s one that I believe ALL women should see and read. I’m not just saying that because it is my story, it refers to mental abuse.
http://wp.me/pOTN0-1Bg
I love that you put a different spin on the image. We’re quick to persecute physical abuse, but slower to recognize it when it’s mental. Thank you for being a part of our creative writing exercise. Once a year we put some of the contributions into a publication, that supports a charity so keep them up if you’d like to be a part of that. I would reallly like to see this one included in next year’s publication.
I will try my best to keep up. I would be honoured for this to go into a publication. It shot to me straight away as mental abuse and people should see what’s inside themselves
Thank you
Here is my entry 🙂
http://gotmeghan.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/picture-it-write-as-the-needle-danced/
I always love writing that talks about having to go through pain to come out improved or more beautiful on the other side.
Here is my entry
http://terry1954.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/picture-it-write-3/
This is only of my favorites of your work Terry! Despite the deeply painful subject, which is always hard for me to read, I’m glad she eventually had the realization: “I have learned that he needed me. But I didn’t realize at that time that I did not need him.”
thank you so much. I really appreciate your feedback Ermilia.
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that’s an awesome photo. i love the character in your story. she’s got spirit and the voice you used is very believable! 🙂
http://theeclecticeccentricshopaholic.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/picture-it-write-xviii/
Very interesting and a different tone for you. Thanks for contributing.
Here’s mine
http://awritersfountain.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/picture-it-write-coming-soon/
A great photo once again.
Your story was great, I am sure most of us had felt tip on our skin at some point in our childhood, interesting take on the photo.
Awe, I don’t think tattoos ruin skin. I did however, make sure I could cover mine.
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Hi Ermilia, Pls find mine below:
http://call2read.com/2013/04/22/picture-it-write-2050/
I love it! We’re always going to be rebellious lol. What a fantastic twist.
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Here is mine – thank you, for the great pic.
http://ramblingsfromamum.wordpress.com/2013/04/22/wanting-to-fit/
I had very mixed feelings toward Alexandria, in part because the last two sentences seem in conflict. In the first she marches to the beat of her own drum “regardless of other’s opinions.” That’s the kind of girl I like, who doesn’t care if she’s a little odd. Then the last sentence says she’s doing it for others, to show them she can be pretty too. This strong young woman with a mind of her own is transformed into a strutting peacock showing off her feathers for the rest of the world to take note and admire. I can’t think of a way it can go both ways.
Lastly, I pity her. She’s altering her body because she does not feel beautiful without the tattoos. Instead of a stamp of her individuality they are a way for her to fit in, her security blanket. It is no different than women whose skin never sees the light of day from under layers upon layers of makeup or women who enlarge their breasts, lift their faces, and suck fat from various places of their body because they base beauty on what they look like and not what is on the inside.
Hi Ermilia. Lovely story. Is there a max word count for picture it & write contributions?
2000 words? Anything longer than a chapter is too long for me to read especially with the other contributions. It’s not an official limit, but I just wont be able to keep up. 🙂 Thanks for asking.
I try to cap it around 1,200. I’m pretty sure either a) I suck, or b) that’s still too long for most blog readers.
It’s not too long if it’s interesting! Thanks for responding.
I love all of your posts Anne. There have been a few times that I’ve looked at it, scrolled, and decided I need to skip it temporarily, but I try to always come back to them if I can.
Here is my entry for this week:
http://edgarsroad.co/category/edgars-quill/
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Great story. Have to say, I was inspired by the photo this week. Here’s my entry.
http://rendezvouswithrenee.com/2013/04/22/picture-it-and-write-it-scars-in-ink/
This is one of those lost faith in humanity moments. I don’t understand how people can violate young girls like that. So glad Damon reacted the way he did. There’s really no good way to react to news like that, but saying “”I love you,” and not taking it out on the victim is how it should be.
Honey see my previous comment. I’m with you. I’m a survivor, like Rhiannon.
Was going to do this on Friday, but I can’t resist delaying it!
http://prisailurophileblog.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/picture-it-write-a-short-story-xii/
Bahahaha “Sarcasm? Like Sheldon Cooper, I could never get the hang of it.” I love that you worked some Big Bang Theory in there.
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http://mythoughtsonthesubjectareasfollows.wordpress.com/2013/04/23/image-of-truth/
I’m really glad someone wrote about inner beauty and self worth. Beautiful message, thanks for contributing this week.
Don’t work too hard…! 😉
Hehe! One could argue that he Sistine Chapel was a temple, right? I love the kids drawing on each other. Don’t we though?
I actually meant mine to be hope-inspiring, but I think I got dark. Sorry. Here’s Dead Like Me, which has nothing to do with that TV show even though I loved it.
I wrote one for last week too, but it’s… I’m playing catchup again.
“Would a raindrop still be a raindrop after it falls into the ocean?” This was particularly thought provoking.
I like your take on the prompt.
Sorry, I too came up with a dark take on the prompt … perhaps a little sensitive and disturbing too
http://scraps-from-life.blogspot.in/2013/04/undead-or-may-be-not.html
The ending felt like it should have been really powerful, but I didn’t get it. Where did the butterflies come from that she would hate them? It’s almost as though you saw the other image I wanted to use for this prompt.
All of these were great! I wish I had something to contribute but couldn’t relate to the picture this week, and the one thing that did start to crop into my head didn’t feel right to me and I scrapped it.
Just thought you should know how much I admire you for passing on a piece when it didn’t truly resonate or come from deep within, rather than just putting something together for the sake of the prompt. The patience of an artist 🙂 Looking forward to reading your next contribution though, whenever that may be!
I have to agree with Marisa. I really love it when the contributions shine and it’s obvious the image provoked something for the writer. Other times it’s hard to come up with something unique to say. Looking forward to reading your work in future weeks.
Oh my goodness! I did not realize the replies had piled up this much. ❤ It's been a long week but as always, I promise to read and reply to all of them.
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So sorry I’m late! http://evilnymphstuff.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/my-looking-glass-self/
This just goes as a reminder that money doesn’t buy happiness. Great contribution.
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This has been like a record number of responses, and I still have a few to go, but I’m really sad no one (so far) mentioned the awesome knee-highs! Rocking those (and getting away with it) would be so awesome!
You should write that! I love it when a contribution picks up on something the others overlooked. One of these times, I’m going to write a contribution that ignores the elephant in the room.
I’m a little late on this one, but better late than never right? http://fate423.wordpress.com/2013/05/15/nothing/
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